Early evening - Paris - Thurs. July 3.

The Sakai conference is over.

It’s been an amazing experience in a lot of ways:

• went to sessions where I received some great info
• had a Sakai elder spend 3 hours showing me ‘under the hood’ of Sakai - brain melt down but not impossible
• met some very cool people from Universities in USA and South Africa.
• gave out a lot of SKIL2 business cards - everyone thinks they are beautiful and love them.
• made an IBM contact which I really wanted to do.

Tres successful.

Totally worth the time and money - and having to travel through Dublin Airport (spit).

This afternoon I continued my wandering.

Went to the Rue des Ecoles in search of contemporary cinemas.

I wanted to get Lynda and Derek flyers of movies that were on.

Would you believe - July is French Film Month!!

I went to 4 cinemas and got some cool flyers, postcards & film guides.

Wandered to Rue Dante which has all the comic and manga shops.

Marc - can’t find the ones you want - yet. I’ll keep looking.

Got some great women warrior comics;-

• Witchblade
• Tomb Raider
• Elektra
• She Hulk
• Red Sonja

Landed up in a great cafe ( La Fourmi Ailee) that’s 3 minutes from me - just along the Rue Dante.

Acid green couches … walls of books … jazz playing

SIpped on a sauv blanc and tasted an amazing tarte citron with a fig base - and a great pot of lapsang souchong.

All was well in the world.

I’m having lunch there tomorrow with Amy from Uni Indiana.

Then I thought I’d go on a nostalgic walk to the Ille St Louis - where I stayed on my last visit to Paris.

I went to the restaurant where I had eaten alone - and loved it.

Brent & Mary (Moo bar) - I had forgottent that the restaurant was called The Cow - in french.

How could I forget all the different cows in the window!!!

Took photos and will be posing Bo there tomorrow.

Home now and sipping a glass of Grenache Cinsault.

I’ve drunk less wine in a week than I do on a night in the wine bar in Ballinamore with Mags, Adrian, Derek & Lynda.

It’s the neighbours leading me astray dear reader - I’m so impressionable!!

I’m having a quiet night tonight.

A glass of wine - some hummous and greek bread - a salad - spanakopita and tsaziki. All bought yesterday.

I spent about 30 euro in a Greek cafe take away yesterday and have had 4 meals from it.

Hope you’ve had a lovely day wherever you are dear reader.

Liz

 

Thursday - July 3. Ballinamore/Paris Liz

Hi great readers.

I’m blogging live from the Sakai conference.

There are heaps of IT geeks (me too) typing away and chatting.

Feeling much more energised after my lolling day yesterday.

In the last hour I’ve chatted with two great women from the Uni of Indiana - Rita Pavolka and Uni Michigan - Linda Place.

They are really interested in SKIL2 and Rita has invited me to lunch with some other people so I can chat about SKIL2 and my perception of Sakai.

As a newbie - my sense is that the Sakai brand message says ‘Sakai is for universities’.

That could act as a barrier to entry for organisations - say non profits - who think it’s too complicated or only has tools that universities will use.

My sense is that Sakai has a steep learning curve but a lot of great tools that would build SKIL2.

The other added advantage of Sakai is the strong community.

Many top universities have provided their teams to build and test Sakai tools - it’s always evolving.

I’ll be contacting the people I have met in a number of universities in America and South Africa - and ask them if they will be SKIL2 support/partners.

Regardless of whether you are interested in open source or learning management systems - this journey is interesting as it’s like all new journeys we take.

It has

• risks,
  
• excitement,
  
• frustration,
  
• chaos,
  
• creativity,
  
• fear,
  

I have a very clear vision for this SKIL2 journey.

I can actually see what the SKIL2 learning space will look like.

The steps to the realisation of SKIL2 will be counted in the millions.

And I’ll need patience, persistence, a sense of humour & lots of champagne.

Still blogging live folks.

Sitting at this table is really useful.

People come up and link their computers and then say hi.

Just finished chatting with Patricia Sullivan - IBM exec from San Fran.

She is off to Dublin tonight and tomorrow night. She asked for some hints on Dublin.

She wants me to contact her when I get home. Cool. I’d love IBM as a support/partner.

Funny - I was sitting here thinking ‘ I’ve met some of the key universities. All I want to do now is meet someone from IBM’ and voila - IBM turns up.

Happens to me all the time - so I’m very careful who I think about.

I think I’ll just sit here at the table and see who else I meet.

So - how’s Ballinamore going?

Maggie- is it still raining? How’s the Sunny Funny Garden? Any more strawberries?

Lynda & Derek - I have found a street that has some contemporary film spaces. I’ll be going to them to grab some free film postcards for you.

After lunch I’m off for a wander to the Jardin des Plantes and maybe across to the Right Bank - to the Marais.

Have a lovely day.

Liz

 

July 2 - your Ballinamore Paris Liz

Yesterday was super busy with the Sakai conference.

I went to a great session on how the Uni of Indiana is using podcasts as a learning tool. Liked their process a lot and can see real applications for SKIL2.

One of the Sakai committee members - Jim - gave me 3 hours of his time to show me how Sakai works.

Folks - it’s both really clear and totally complicated.

When Jim started showing me computer code to reconfigure elements of Sakai tools - my brain got a little woozy - but I could follow him.

By 3pm I was bushed so went back to the studio for a shower and siesta - it was about 30C and really hot.

Up and about for the Sakai reception - a 45 minute walk from the studio.

Walking up the Boulevard St Germain and then Bvd. St Michel - it’s so lovely. I walked past the Luxembourg Gardens and watched kids playing in the park.

The reception was fun and I got talking with some great people from South Africa, America and Spain.

A few of us went out to dinner later. got something to eat but I wouldn’t rave about the cafes on these roads - high prices and mediocre food.

Woke today and was totally exhausted.

I think all the walking (2 to 3 hours a day in the heat) and the intensity of my brain trying to take in a mountain of new information - just made me tired.

I stayed in bed and slept for ages and then went out to get some food in the afternoon. It was raining (Maggie don’t get mad - but I loved the rain after all the heat) and the place was cooling down.

I walked along a street that has an amazing number of comic stores. I had no idea the French loved comics - and many of them are hardback.

Bought some lovely food from a Greek takeaway around the corner as I was getting very wet.

Spent the rest of the afternoon lolling.

Will be more energetic tomorrow as there is a really interesting session on mashups at the conference.

And I have a free day on Friday and will wander and buy some chocolate and comics.

Decided not to come to Paris in October.

I’m going to Singapore for 2 weeks to work with Marc and some of his developers to start to build the SKIL2 foundations.

Whether I use Sakai or another OS CMS/LMS is yet to be seen. I need to review a few more.

EIther way I’m going to have to learn about:

• Apache Maven
• My SQL
• Tom Cat
• Java

Yeh - scarey.

But - that’s why it’s called a learning curve.

New knowledge and skills doesn’t just wander into our heads fully formed.

We have to struggle with some stuff, find other stuff easy -and just be patient and persistent.

Oh yeh - and get all the help and support I can.

The SKIL2 vision I have is very clear.

Now it’s time for some of the baby steps.

Hope your day has gone well.

Loving Paris and looking forward to getting back to Ballinamore and my friends and the Sunny Funny Garden.

Liz

 

Paris Ballinamore correspondent - 10pm June 30

How long can a day be?

Last time I wrote I was sharing my new girl nerves.

I got over them and went to my Intro to Sakai session.

We were a small but gorgeous group so we introduced ourselves and then settled in for the next 3.5 hours.

At the break I said Hi to the guy in front of me who’s from Oz. Turns out he lives in Perth - Scarborough!

Yup - small world. He’s a Brit who has an Irish mum and moved to Oz.

I’m a hybrid with Irish parents who moved to Ireland - a kind of karmic people balance.

The Sakai introduction was great and made me feel both shit scared and excited.

Thank God/dess they have the same physical manifestations (increased heart rate and breathing) or I would have been in trouble.

I can see the real potential for Sakai to be the base for the SKIL2 learning space.

And - I have to learn a lot. So much that my head may explode.

And -I do not exclude the possibility that after a year I may not be able to build the vision of SKIL2 that I have … but that’s a very worst case scenario.

What I am experiencing is totally common in any new learning experience ... that sense of the huge chasm between what you want to know … and knowing how much you don’t know and have to learn.

Then Mike and me and Amy (one of the presenters) walked the 40 minutes to the newbie reception. It was fun chatting and laughing as we went along.

Paris is really beautiful and a walking city. Every corner has beautiful buildings and little cafes ….

Met a few really nice people who have offered any help I need to build SKIL2.

They weren’t just saying it - they were asking for time to chat with me during the conference … and was there anyone I wanted to meet … too sweet.

An aside - we find it easy to dump on Americans (and darlin’s some of them really don’t help themselves. I listened to a couple at my gelato stand say things - very loudly - like ‘ there’s no bell,,, I bet we wait here for ever,,’).

Well - Mags and my neighbours (Lynda and Derek) are fab and two of my favourite people.

And the Sakai folks are American - and totally delightful.

I have a feeling that if I asked nicely - they’d pretty much build SKIL2 for me.

I think the real sense of community and support appeals to me.

I’m deeply value driven so it’s a real buzz to have people offering their time and skills for free.

Apart from me - there were 2 things people loved at the reception when I chatted with them - the SKIL2 business card (got rave reviews from everyone - beautiful,cool, love it … ) and Diva (my new 7 inch laptop)

People were asking if they could borrow her to show their mates.

If I was on commission to sell the Asus Eee 701 - I’d be able to finance SKIL2.

I left the reception and walked for over an hour home.

Lolling Liz not happy.

Even with a map I get lost - but what a city to get lost in.

I wandered past the Luxemborg Gardens and down the Boulevard Saint Michel - then into the Boulevaard Saint Germain and into my street - Rue Maitre Albert.

Went to the Creperie for a so so dinner.

I realised around 9.30 that all I’d eaten was a fruit salad for breakfast. I tend to forget food when I am energised.

Drinking about 3 litres of water a day and walking about 3hours.

Tired Lizzy.

What no photos!!!!!! - I hear you yell.

Yeh - and when exactly have I had the time to upload and resize the photos my dear reader?

No time at all at all.

Patience mon ami - I will get it sorted soon.

Love Paris and will be renting this studio for a month either in the Autumn or next year - early Spring.

If people want the contact I will share it only with my devoted readers. And I’m booking it for October.

I feel really comfortable here - as I do in Ballinamore.

Should have heard me raving about Ballinamore at the conference drinks - I love living there.

I don’t speak a lot of French but I say hello, and good, and bye, and thank you instinctively - not just verbally but in my head.

Off to sleep now. Tired … tired,

Sweet dreams.

Bon nuit.

Liz

 

Sakai Geek heaven - Paris. June 30.

So - here I am at the conference at the Marie Curie Uni.

Lots of men and a few women. Lots of American accents talking programming talk. Some french men across at another table - probably talking about dinner.

Me?

I’ve got my conference pack and a wireless connection. They have set up this huge room with tables and connections. There are a few people typing away on their computers.

My Diva laptop is the prettiest.

Feels a bit like being the new girl at the new school (something I have had a lot of experience doing - 6 or so schools when I was a kid). Everyone has someone to play with but me.

And I’ll just sit back and watch people for a while.

I’ll find some playmates real soon.

The newbie reception tonight will be a good place to start meeting people.

I’m also about to go to an ‘Introduction to Sakai’ session for 3 hours. The room will be full of newbies like me.

Hot and sunny outside.

liz

 

Bonjour from your Ballinamore Paris Liz

Bonjour mes amis

Sorry it’s been a few days since my last blog … it’s taken me all weekend to find an adapter for the computer … and … get the computer linked to broadband.

I did get a chance to write some stuff offline so I’ll paste it in here.

The trip from Dublin to Paris redefines nightmare.

The Dublin Airport Authority deserves a good thrashing.

There so called ‘welcome helpers’ sent me to the wrong line where I waited for an hour only to be then told to go to another line.

It’s like the 9th pit of hell combined with what I think Limbo must have been like.

Folks - it is a rare thing to see me in a rage … and it’s a cold and scarey thing.

I seethed.

Anyway - read what I wrote on the plane as I was living it.

June 27 In Dublin the day before going to Paris.

Lolling in Brown Thomas restaurant waiting for my sauv blanc and duck roll.

So - here I am sipping on the sauv blanc and eating the yum duck roll - and - I’m watching the well dressed women around me leaning forward to each other and chatting about who knows what.

Its hot as hell in here and in Dublin.

I left Ballinamore wrapped up and cold. Thanks Cathy for the lift and great chatting to Mrs Smith & Siobhan - they’re off to party in Cork.

Look at the new banner again.

Does anyone remember the tv series - Bewitched?

I thought the type face and design had a resonance of that show. I loved the show and I wonder if Marc thinks I’m a witch.

Did I mention I’m off to Paris?

I’m pretty sure that Maggie and the rest of the neighbourhood is sick of hearing about this Paris trip.

Somehow I’ve been able to bring it into every conversation

‘ Ah - your dog died. Did I tell you I’m off to Paris.’

‘Great to hear about your bypass surgery … love affair …new book (congrats Derek) … Spain being in the final … Did I tell you I’m off to Paris?’

28^th June - Saturday - 7am.

And here I sit in the Aer Lingus plane.

After a long, long, long wait in the wrong line (thank you customer care at Dublin Airport - not - you big stupid people) and then another wait in another line - and then a run to get on the plane …. we wait.

We wait for an hour in the plane to get a berth to take off.

The plane is full … of big and small people … goddess bless them for their patience.

I did the quick check in online. And then we all had to line up to get our baggage checked in - yup - that’s efficient - not.

To say I’m a little irritated would be to understate my feelings … I’m an easy going woman but stupidity and bad service do my head in …. breathe … breathe … breathe… breathe

Oh - and did I tell you I have a middle seat?

And I’m deeply claustrophobic.

Yup - that’s me screaming at the back of the plane …. breathe ….

And did I have an early night last night?

Not at all.

I was at Eden restaurant with Mary & Jo eating and drinking more white wine.

The cab woke me at 5am. I had about 3 minutes to get ready.

Looking forward to getting into my studio apartment in Paris and just lying down.

Folks - this is hell.

Breathe .…

I may never fly again …

I think I’ll go by ferry or swim or grow wings.

Staying strangely calm …

They are playing classical music … a brave attempt to sublimely calm us all.

Please get me out of here.

Your soon to be Paris blogger …. HELP …. help ….whimper …sigh

Later that day - in Paris

I’m in love- with Paris.

Got ripped off by a dodgy cab - 90 euro.

Arrived early at Rue Maitre Albert where my studio apartment is … and climbed the 6 flights of stairs with my huge case.

and then life just went blissful from there on

The studio was ready and it’s a dote … on a quiet street literally across from Notre Dame. It’s kitted out with everything and a chaise lounge.

Liz is in heaven.

I went wandering around the neighbourhood and bought some lovely greek food and some french rose (6 euro a bottle).

After my late night, early morning and fraught flight …I lay my head down for a siesta.

Was woken to the sound of pounding music and remembered that it’s the Gay Pride parade .

It ran all the way down the Boulevard Saint Germain - which is 10 steps away from the apartment.

Thousands and thousands of people … all celebrating (photos to follow when I can work out the new photo software on this laptop).

Great fun and I danced away and celebrated along with everyone else. It went on for hours.

In Paris they have these huge open trucks and organisations all dance on them. Between each truck was a few hundred people walking.

When the noise got too much I wandered off and explored the streets around my neighbourhood.

So far I have found:

• a creperie on the corner - think I’ll have breakfast there in the morning. Also had a citron gelato - nice and cold
• a few lovely shops - bought a great necklace
• A comic shop that sells manga and tin tin. Which ones do you want Marc?
• an asian grocery across the street where I bought a mango

And here’s a spooky/serendipity/synchronicity thing…

Literally 20 steps from my apartment is a shop that sells computer books and magazines!! And the guy knew about the Sakai conference!

I kid you not.

Sipping a glass of rose and eating olives stuffed with orange - yum.

It was 30 C today but is lovely and cool now.

I have my balcony window open and I can hear the sounds of people talking and walking … really lovely.

And on the hour I hear the bells …. the bells … of Notre Dame.

I love Paris.

Bon nuit from your Ballinamore Paris correspondent.

p.s. James - if you’re reading this let me know if the sunny funny garden kids were able to garden yesterday after the rain. Just leave a comment here.

Sunday June 29

Wandered up the Rue Mouffetard which has lots of cheese, wine, chocolate, pastry shops - and an open vege and fruit market.

The feast to the senses is quite amazing and I will post photos soon.

For 14 euro I bought bags of cherries, peaches, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes … huge handfuls of basil, mint and lambs lettuce.

Came back to the apartment and ate an amazing salad.

It’s in the high 20’s here and hot. So - I had a siesta.

Wandered out again and strolled along the Seine watching people in outdoor cafes sipping wine and others browsing through the booksellers wares.

Me?

I’d bought a citron sorbet at the creperie at the bottom of my street and happily ate it as I wandered along.

My destination was the university where the conference is being held. About 15 minutes walk along the Seine.

Found the Uni and wandered in to see if there were any Sakai signs up.

As I was making my way out I was approached by 2 security guards who asked me something in French.

I replied that I didn’t speak French .. smiled.

They replied that they didn’t speak English … smiled.

I wandered out.

June 30 Monday

Some of the preconference sessions started at 8am this morning.

Yeh right.

I will be attending the afternoon session and then a reception for newbies like me this evening.

Sunny and warm here today as I walked along the Boulevard Saint Michel looking for an electrical store.

I really am enjoying just wandering Paris. There’s so much to look at.

The buildings in this arrondisement are really beautiful and my apartment feels like it’s all part of the neighbourhood.

It’s central to the Seine and the Marais (great shopping) and all the Left Bank bookshops and tea shops.

And - it was only 550 euro for the week.

I’d say that it’s just right for 1 person or 2 people who are very very very close.

I think I’ll come here for a month next year and write and wander.

Will post photos tonight dear reader.

Au revoir

Liz

p.s - Lynda & Derek. I’m assuming that Spain won the final as I kept hearing crowds of people in the streets here singing ‘Ole Ole Ole’. You guys must be delighted.

 

Who’s a clever brother then?

I was relaxing in Moo Bar this afternoon waiting for my fave bagel to be made (brie, bacon & cranberry) when Brent said

‘ I like that new photo of you on your blog’

I thought he meant a photo within the blog.

Oh no dear reader - the whole blog header has been revamped by my amazing design genius of a brother (and I don’t exaggerate because he’s my bro- the man is brilliant) Marc.

It was a surprise - and I love it.

The photo was taken by one of the Sunny, Funny Gardeners - Aoife.

She is 5 years old and has a great eye.

Of course, the model has years of experience in doing as she’s told (not) so she took the photographers direction beautifully!

Marc has completely redesigned the banner and it’s even better than the old one - which I loved.

It has a fun,magic, playful feel about it - as if nothing was impossible.

Thank you Marc.

You make my words beautiful with your design vision - and you truly ‘get’ me - a rare thing in my life.

Marc was also the design genius behind my Life Dreaming Workbook and visual branding of my Life Dreaming workshops.

I wrote the workbook in November 2006 and Marc did all the design - we tend to cross over as we go along - he does some words and I do some design stuff.

Actually, my design contribution is usually a squiggle that I scan and email to Marc with a comment like

‘ can you give this a kind of baroque, mae west, sensual feel?’

And he does.

The Life Dreaming visual branding is pretty damn gorgeous as well.

Go click on the page that says Liz Biz - and you’ll see the range of visual branding Marc has designed for my businesses.

Today - I mailed off the Life Dreaming Workbook to an international publisher called 10 Speed Press (actually - it was Celestial Arts - which is part of 10 speed.) in California.

They are one of the largest independent publishers in the world and have a good value base.

I like linking with other value driven enterprises.

We’ll see how that goes.

What a hoot it would be if Life Dreaming became as popular as The Secret (which is the worst written book in the entire history of publishing - but it was pretty and sold millions and millions and Oprah loved it. So style and no substance does sell.).

Marc has encouraged me to do a few Life Dreaming workshops in Singapore - maybe for November. I think that would be fun.

And Ronnie- maybe I’ll do a few in New York.

I deliberately didn’t put any photos in this post as I want to honour the really gorgeous new banner my brother Marc designed as a surprise for me.

Thanks Marc.

xxx Liz

 

Another week ends

(photos from flickr)

Hope your week has had some sunshine in it.

Mine has been interesting and fun.

I’ve been enjoying how useful and portable my new laptop is - small and beautiful - style and function combined.

Everyone who sees Diva the laptop - loves her and wants one.

I’m imagining the Pixmania.ie crew scratching their heads as they see a buying spike in a place they have never heard of - Ballinamore.

Not only do we live in a beautiful place but we’re also tech savvy.

Speaking of tech savvy - Moo Bar now has free wifi.

Do yourself a favour and pop in for a great coffee and bagel (I am scared of how much I love their brie, bacon and cranberry bagel) and surf the great netsphere.

Tonight Moo Bar has latin dancing classes.

Congrats also to Brent in Moo Bar for the great website he has designed single handed.

I showed him a ‘how to’ article on Google Pages (their new free & easy web site design tool) and he was off and running.

Let’s see - what else has happened in my week?

I got a new contract with Leitrim Tourism, County Council & Leitrim Enterprise Board to develop an all of Leitrim promotion week.

I’ve called it Experience Leitrim Week - Explore + Enjoy.

The name does what it says on the tin.

Last year I wrote a Leitrim tourism product development strategy and this will inform the development of the week in April 2009.

It’s a really exciting opportunity to promote the county I love.

I’m recommending a blended approach that will cover 8 themes and have 2 streams.

The streams involve a mix of packaged events/tours and what I’m calling ‘build your own experience’ - where you can see a wide range of places, people and events that are happening in the week and you choose what you want to do.

It could be a history walk in the morning - a massage in the afternoon - a caili in the evening - and some quiet stargazing before bed.

I’m facilitating a brainstorming meeting in July and am developing a strategy to enable Leitrim people - and people who love Leitrim - to give us their ideas. We’ll be using social media and conventional media to listen.

One suggestion I have is for anyone to send photos to the Leitrim Tourism site (new site will be up in a few weeks) of the places, people and events in Leitrim they love.

I have also recommended that their site build in a number of interactive tools so people can communicate their ideas. I’m thinking that 30 second podcasts of people, characters, sayings … from leitrim people would be great as well.

The session in July and the invitation for leitrim people to contribute ideas for the Week will be such a great opportunity for all of us to show what we love about this wonderful county.

I’m really looking forward to being a small part of the whole process.

I ate my fave bagel 3 times in Moo Bar this week. I may have to join a circle of people where the opening lines are

‘ Hello, my name is Liz and I’m a brie with bacon & cranberry in bagel addict …’

Sad - very sad.

My brother Sean celebrated his birthday so I had a great chat with him in Oz. They were sitting outside after a bbq and he said it was getting a bit cold - yeh - 24C! Wimp boy. We were lucky to hit a max of 12 this week and it rained most days.

I also found out yesterday that I didn’t win a social entrepreneur ireland award.

Yeh - disappointed for about 30 seconds and then let it go.

Everything has its opportunities and costs and the SEI award was no different.

I gave it my best shot and the rest was out of my control - and I never ever fuss, worry or bother about things beyond my control.

5000 euro would have come in handy for the development of SKIL2 - as would the notion of the award. They also wanted awardees to commit 5 days to networking events and that would have been costly.

I’ve asked them for some very specific feedback and I will use it to fine tune my presentation of SKIL2 to private and third level sponsors.

Everything really is a learning experience and I believe very deeply that the attitude you choose to any situation is what ultimately counts.

And it’s the perceived failures that test our resolve. Success is easy to smile at …

(photo from Flickr)

I choose to see this as an opportunity to fine tune how I communicate SKIL2.

I’m also very grateful to the SEI award.

Deciding to go for the award made me develop SKIL2 beyond a vague idea. It wouldn’t exist otherwise.

Has not winning an award shaken my resolve about SKIL2?

It takes more than that to derail my belief in the real impact that SKIL2 could have for small to medium non profits.

Life and my business as a social entrepreneur and consultant is full of challenges - you just keep your eye on the vision and learn from everything and everyone.

So - that is over and now I focus on the future.

An aside - it’s interesting to explore where you ‘face’ in terms of the Past, Present & Future.

I am definitely a Present & Future focused person. While I think about the Past it is not where I face. I have an uncanny ability to just let go (good and bad thing) of the past.

A dear friend would identify herself as facing the Past - a real connection to people and places along her life time line. She is well able to dream the future - but her dominant ‘facing’ is the Past.

Where do you face?

The next step in the SKIL2 journey - is a journey.

Off to Paris (Love saying that!) next week (Saturday 28th) for an international open source learning management systems conference - Sakai.

Look out delegates - Liz is in town.

I hope to meet people there who will help me build SKIL2.

I will be blogging on Diva for the week I’m in Paris.

And this afternoon I go and play in the Sunny Funny Garden with the kids and some grown ups.

Thank you Lindy for the seeds you sent. We will have such a plethora of sunflowers that satellites in space will be able to see their smiling faces in Ballinamore.

The crocheted butterfly is a dote and has pride of place in my kitchen.

And tomorrow I’m off on an impromptu visit to a dear friend at his country retreat in Athlone.

Given the appalling state of public transport in this country I’m amazed that there is even a bus from Ballinamore to Athlone. I’ll be happily ensconced on the number 77 with my newspapers at noon tomorrow for the 2 hour trip to Athlone.

Looking forward to catching up with Feargus and exploring a bit of Athlone.

Oh yeh - had my hair cut and coloured yesterday (stay with me Dad) and love it.

So there you go dear reader - a week chock full of fun and adventures - and soooo many more to come.

Have a fab weekend.

Liz

 

Meet Diva

Itś Tuesday and I’ve declared it

DIVA DAY

Diva is my new 7 inch laptop from Asus.

Her formal name is Asus Eee PC 701 - but I have never been one for formality.

Here are a few pictures so you can get a sense of scale- sheś smaller than most magazines and half the size of an A4 sheet.

That’s Diva sitting on a magazine that’s A5!

Glad to see my lounge is tidy.

And here’s Diva lolling next to a sheet of A4 paper.

She may be small but she’s all style.

Her stats are pretty amazing:

• 4gig hardrive - can add more using an external hardrive or memory stick
• 3 usb ports
• microphone and headphone ports
• port to connect to a bigger screen
• a webcam fitted into the screen - scarey to see yourself on video
• weighs < 1kg. I carry heavier books.
• wifi enabled (although you need to know your WEP key to enable access)

Itś fully loaded with Linux Open Office software - faster than Windows and totally compatable with it - i.e you can move Open Office files to a PC using Windows and vice versa.

Linux is an open source operating system. And the Open Office software is also Open Source.

Stay with me folks - this is important info ….

Open Source means that literally thousand and thousands of people have developed the system or software - for free.

It’s collaborative and open and shared online - my kind of ethos.

You can download Linux and Open Office FOR FREE onto your computer - and never have to pay for Windows software again.

The operating system and all the applications for SKIL2 will be open source - because it’s free and value driven.

Back to Diva.

The computer starts in about 10 seconds or less which is heaps faster than Windows with all its bloatware. It takes me a few minutes to get to my Gmail on my other laptop (but I still love her too).

The whole setup is very intuitive and visual.

There are a few key areas that are at the top of the page -

Internet, Work, Learn, Play, Settings & Favourites

Technical aside - bet you’re wondering how I got these great shots.

Techies and designers will know but I bet Maggie is interested to know.

Have a look at your keyboard now ( yup and also keep reading this - you can multi task).

Look at the top of the keyboard where there are F keys. can you see Prt Sc on a key?

All you do is punch that key and then open a file (usually in photos) and Ctrl V or Paste. You have a screenshot.

That’s what I did for all these shots of Diva’s screen. You learnt 1 more thing today. Cool you.

Each of them open to a range of applications.

Internet opens a range of mail providers and has a few cool apps such as wikipedia and internet radio where you can listen to stations all around the world.

It’s also Skype enabled - that’s the online phone system.

Work holds key Open Office applications such as Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations & PDF Reader (that will turn your documents into a PDF in about 30 seconds - easy peasy.) - and they work just like Microsoft Office.

That’s the Documents application - easy to use.

Play has games (and about 3 dozen versions of patience) but I prefer to play away from the computer.

What it does have is very easy to use photo, video and music managers. The webcam is there as well.

Was thinking of taking a screenshot of me on the webcam …. nah …. way too scary.

Learn has games and quizzes for kids that cover maths, language, and a few others.

Settings has the usual stuff that you can play with to fine tune the system.

Favourites is where you can move any one of the applications you use a lot to this space.

I´ve been looking for a small laptop to pop in my bag when I travel.

When I take my usual laptop I can hear my back and shoulders groaning.

Until this laptop (and some of you may know about the 100 dollar laptop but that is not available other than through developing countries) most laptops of this size cost over 2000 euro.

Guess how much Diva cost?

Including VAT and delivery from the UK - 285 euro.

Yup - sheś cheap but not cheap - if you know what I mean.

I ordered her online through Pixmania. They accept credit cards as well as bank transfers and Diva was on my doorstep within a week or so of payment.

Pixmania give you a choice of Black, White, Pink (for the boys of course), Blue & Green.

Mine is green to match the SKIL2 colour branding.

Can you do me a favour please?

If you decide to buy one on the basis of hearing about it from me - let me know.

I want to approach Asus as a sponsor for SKIL2 and some evidence that I can affect their sales would be great.

Some of the reviews I read said that the keyboard was small - DUH - it’s a 7 inch laptop - genius.

I typed this post on Diva and the keyboard is just fine.

Diva will be coming with me to Paris next week to an international open source learning management systems (Sakai) conference - and I think she’ll create a bit of a stir - as will I. We are perfectly matched.

Asus have just brought out an 8 inch version but I’m just fine with the 7 inch at a price point under 300 euro.

I see the beginning of a long and happy relationship between Diva and moi.

Happy to answer any queries people have.

Take good care.

Liz & Diva

 

Where does a week go?

Hi folks.

A week since I last wrote and I knew it would be a busy one.

Quick summary:

• develop 50 slide powerpoint with music for my Depaul Trust senior managers presentation of SKIL2. Runs for 8 minutes and looks great.
• up to Dublin for presentation. Goes very well and senior managers fully support SKIL2. Ask very clear and relevant questions. Will adapt powerpoint to reflect their perspective.
• go shopping and book into hotel.
• drinks with friend in Floridita - a cuban bar and private club on the northside. Eat great tapas and catch up. I was a member last year but didn’t renew my membership - mentioned this to one of the staff (who was really pleased to see me and remembered me - nice). She went and saw the manager and they have offered me free membership. Cool.
• next day back on train to Carrick for a meeting with Leitrim Tourism and Leitrim County Council. Doing a small contract for them that follow from a tourism product development report I wrote for them last year.
• lunch at the Oarsman pub in Carrick with Mary Mulvey - cab driver and all round lovely woman. Great food and chat.
• Work on Thursday. My 7 inch Asus laptop arrives and there is much rejoicing. I’ve called her Diva. Opened the package up in Priors pub and 3 people want to buy one. Showed it to Brent in Moo Bar - ditto. A few others want one as well. Will do a post on Diva tomorrow.
• Wine in the Moo Bar on Thursday.
• Derek’s book is now on sale. He gave me a signed copy. Well done mate. Will post photos and details this week.
• Friday - starting to feel a wee bit tired but looking forward to Sunny Funny Garden time. Photos to follow.
• Saturday - distilled my elderflower cordial into small bottles to be distributed to the neighbours. Also distilled 15 litres of elderflower champagne (alcohol content is about 3%) that will be vintage in about 6 weeks. Will make a new batch this week. Easy peasy.
• Mooched around the garden Sunday for hours. Had a visit by a dozen of the Hamill’s and D’Arcy’s - grownups and kids. Maggie has added some lovely twirly things. I added the rainbow with the star. Maggie also gathered stones and put them around our sunbeam planted areas - Thanks Mags.

And here I am on Monday.

Decided to start work tomorrow and just chill in bed today. Write a post and then read books.

Lynda’s mum Caroline sent us seeds from Georgia (USA). Caroline - you are a star and will be added to our Sunny Funny Garden gate.

The seeds look fab - wildflowers, herbs, salad, sunflowers (v.excited about them) and other flowers.

We will plant the seeds on Friday. It will be great for the kids to see seeds growing into plants.

James was the official photographer in the garden on Friday and took some lovely pics.

James is a great help in the garden and does all the strimming to keep some of the weeds down.

He also helped me carry a pile of new plants from Eamonn and Noeleen’s - our fab garden centre across the road (they have donated sooo many plants and given me great discounts. Thanks guys).

Some of the new planting included:-

• More strawberries - a dozen plants now. I just know when they all start ripening that the kids will love eating them. The more the merrier.
• Lavendar - for the flowers and scent.
• Fushcia - for the glorious coloured flowers

The strawberries are - strawberrying. I tasted one on Sunday - sweet.

All the plants are thriving - which goes to show that plants will thrive in spite of our lack of knowledge.

I know as much about gardening as the kids - but nature in this case seems to be very forgiving.

The soil is very rich and the moo poo is vintage 2006 - and the sun has been shining.

If plants grow well when there are happy and playful people - then this garden will flourish and thrive.

James had us do a group hug. Eoin kept whispering in my ear ‘I love you Liz’.

Ah - the clear hearts of 4 year olds.

As an aside - remember a few posts back where Eoin asked me why I wasn’t married?

Well - it’s firmly fixed in his mind and he’s decided to be by matchmaker.

He was chatting with his Mum Ber the other day and said

‘ It will be hard to find Liz a husband because she is a princess and very special’

He then proceeded to mention a number of men who he thought might be worthy - including his 16 year old cousin!

I asked him last week if he had any thoughts about who I could marry. He stood thoughtfully pondering my question and then said

‘ You can marry God’ - which is obviously the top prize for a princess.

I asked him which God I was to marry - Jesus or his dad or the other one that I think is a bit of a recluse (theology and discussions of the holy trinity - Ballinamore has it all!).

Hmmmmm - he thought for a second and then said

‘He’s already married.’

‘To whom?’ says I.

‘A nun’ says he.

So the quest continues.

Meanwhile - back in the garden.

There was much activity as the children watered and wandered and planted.

These are the great D’Arcy kids - Thomas (eldest), Aoife & Gavin. They were planting like professionals.

This is Thomas at our rainbow spiral. He had a great time planting a new sunbeam with strawberry, fuschia and nasturtium.

I want the garden to be sensate - colour, smell, taste, sound ….

The rainbow spiral was new to the garden and the kids loved it. There’s a star at the bottom and I told the kids it was to show that they were all stars.

At one point Eoin stood by the rainbow and shouted to us all

‘Who are we?’

We all looked at each other and said

‘What?’

‘We’re stars’ says Eoin.

‘What else are we?’ shouts Eoin.

‘Don’t know - what else are we?’ we reply (we are a well trained crowd!).

‘We’re moo poo shovellers’ says Eoin. ‘What are we?’ asks he.

‘Moo poo shovellers’ shouts the crowd proudly and loudly (I was starting to feel like I was in a Monty Python skit).

‘What else are we?’ asks Eoin.

Blank looks from crowd.

‘We’re the Sunny Funny Garden people’ says he.

Never a dull moment.

Children are a lot like plants in that their water - is attention. They flourish and thrive on being seen and heard.

At one point I had children coming at me from all directions with a multitude of questions.

As long as I smiled - looked at them - and said I’d be over in a minute - they were happy.

Attention and recognition for effort is the ‘water’ that helps children thrive.

When they come to the garden they know they are safe, loved and can express themselves.

They will be heard and acknowledged and respected - and they know it. So, there is rarely any negative behaviour.

They are a joy to be with and I’m loving the garden. It has become a space of great peace and relaxation for me.

Enjoy the photos and I’ll be back tomorrow with photos of Diva.

Have a really lovely day.

Liz

This was the land 4 or 5 weeks ago. We’ve come a long way.

 

Monday Monday

Morning folks.

I have a massive week ahead including a trip to Dublin and then Carrick.

Some important SKIL2 meetings tomorrow. I will hear this week if I won an Social Entrepreneur Ireland Award for SKIL2. My 7 inch Asus Eee computer is arriving.

And as I write - a courier is driving over to deliver my new SKIL2 business cards.

Today I have to design, write and develop a slide presentation of SKIL2. If you’re ever looking for copyright free images - go to Flickr - it’s a free photoshare network.

And even though I’m flat out busy - I will always find time to do a post on this blog. It also helps that I have the Funny Sunny Garden kids nagging me

‘ Liz we didn’t see the photos from Friday … when are we ?… soon? soon? … when? …now?… really now ?’

Yup - nagging works.

So dear reader-here are some photos from Fridays play. Our moo poo was delivered and there was much rejoicing.

Our moo poo (and we made up some great songs) is vintage 2006-so it smells just like really good dirt.

I shovelled moo poo on the centre of our sun garden.

We had great fun planting strawberries and tomatoes. All the rain had softened the cardboard.

All we then needed to do was kind of dig/jab thru the cardboard and plant the plants. The moo poo covers it all.

We also had a great time saying hi to the worms. I explained how they help make the soil yummy. Here is the interprid Maeve again.

All the kids are welcome to bring their friends.

Eoin brought along his best mate Danny.

At 5 Danny is something of an IT genius- I’ve seen him working away on the computer and it’s an amazing sight.

He enjoyed the garden but I think he was wondering where the computer connection was!!

I encourage the kids to help each other and not depend on me. There is only one rule in my gardening team - (or any team I work with) …

Be Kind & Thoughtful with each other.

I find that the kids can be better at kindness than some of the work teams I’ve facilitated.

Maeve was the official photographer on Friday and took many of the lovely shots in this post.

She sent the 2 boys into a slight frenzy as she tried to set up shots. I kept hearing a lot of

‘Eoin -no - Eoin -stop moving - stop moving - now smile…’ The boys were very patient and Maeve was very creative.

When the kids had left I worked away planting a few more things- and then Aishlin and Niamh turned up with some blackberry plants which have now happily settled into the garden.

Niamh had some fun with my camera. I will spare the world the shots of my bum.

On Saturday I spent some alone time in the garden and set up one of the sunbeam pathways for planting. It now has mint, sage, strawberries and nasturtiums.

Thanks to Eamonn in the garden centre for the herbs. I also made a wee stone path to stop me standing on the little white flowers we planted.

In the afternoon I gathered elderflowers and made 15 litres of elderflower champagne and about 1 litre of elderflower cordial. It’s all fermenting in 5 litre buckets for a few days.

And Saturday night was party night.

Maggie, Adrien, Lynda, Derek and me all went to the Moo Bar for a variety night hosted by Joan Walsh.

Joan has a great voice and treated us to some of her own songs and great chat.

The bar was crowded.

Aislinn also sang and it was a delight.

I suppose the nature of a variety show is …. variety.

There seemed to be a lot of ‘readings’.

Unfortunately they weren’t astrology readings … they were … poetry and improv…. sigh.

Now dear reader - I believe and support every persons right to express themselves … I just don’t have to listen.

So - every time someone got up to express themselves … I went outside and watched the traffic go up and down the street and chatted to passers by.

I’m 50 next year and have decided to age disgracefully … or at least to please myself and still be as kind as possible.

My life is far too short for readings of any kind - unless it’s the will of a long lost relative who died of a great old age and left me their island and champagne collection and books and vintage cars and … sorry lost myself there for a minute.

A good time was had by all and when we got the chance to chat there was a truckload of laughter and bantering.

We left Moo Bar somewhere near 1 am and went back to Maggies for a barbque under the stars … and the misty rain.

Mags had set up a cocktail bar and I had some yellow concoction … but it had an umbrella so I was happy.

So - we ate and chatted and laughed and sang until 4 or 5 in the morning.

Sunday was definitely a day of rest.

What a great bunch of people as neighbours. I foresee a few more celebrations.

I send you big wishes for a fab week.

Liz

 

Meet my Family in Oz & Singapore

Dad rang this morning from Oz for a catch up chat - always a pleasure even when he wakes me up.

He started the conversation by saying ‘I see that the garden and kids are going well and how are the 2 new neighbours?’

Yup - the man reads my blog.

I think he’s the only one (apart from Marc) in the family who does. The rest of the family prefers to relax outside and leave computers for work.

My 3 brothers, sister and Mum all live in the Northwest of Western Australia. Eamonn & Sean are in Exmouth (about 1000 miles north of Perth) and Liam, Siobhain and Mum live in Karratha - a 6 hours drive from Exmouth.

I visited them all during Late 2007 until February 2008. I get to see them every 2 to 3 years and spend a week or so in each town catching up.

So - here is a bit of a rogues gallery from my Oz trip.

Dad, my stepmum Liz and moi on Xmas day.

My step brother Bruce and his wife Ploy

Dad with Bruce and Ploy’s son Leo. For some reason he always smiled when he saw me.

My truly wonderful sis Siobhain and me. I’m the eldest (49 on July 26 - just send champagne) and she’s the youngest (40). The female bookends of the family.

My Pa teaching me woodwork.

I got to play with the power tools - routers are tricky little buggers.

Wise hands.

Liam and Eamonn meeting at a roadhouse hundreds of miles from anywhere. Eam (he’s 11 months younger than me) drove me 3hours to this place from Exmouth - and - Liam (6 years younger than big sis) drove 3 hours down from Karratha to pick me up. Love my brothers.

Eam and his wife Gail at one of the many Exmouth beaches. Being the great brother he is - he’s packed champagne for his sis. Oh yeh - and a chair so I wouldn’t get sandy - God what a Princess!

Life’s not all chairs and champagne folks - I also got to single kayak with Eam. I’m going to buy one and paddle the Ballinamore canal.

Me and Eam - the eldest. The one’s the parents get to experiment on before they give up their learners permits. Eam is a wonderful man and a really exceptional manager. He’s Fire Chief on the base in Exmouth.

Eam & Gail and Sean (3 years younger than me) and his wife Wendy - around their pool on new years eve.

I laughed soo much that night and really loved their company.

Sean - one of the funniest men I know.

Sean, me & Eam. In the 4 weeks I was in Exmouth and Karratha I had to stay indoors during the day as the temps were soooo high - 45 to 50C.

In the evenings in Exmouth we would wander over to Seans pool and I just became the water baby sipping on - you guessed it - champagne.

Dinner on close to my last night in Exmouth. Gail, niece Sam (Wendy’s daughter), nephew Jake (Sean’s son) & Wendy.

Sean dropped us off in his limo when the cab we ordered didn’t turn up - bummer. When he’s not being a firefighter - he and his wife run a bus and limo hire service. He is an amazing entrepreneur who just sees niche markets where other people see - nothing.

First night in Karratha and Liam, his wife Janine and their 2 girls Emma & Jesse came over to Siobhain & Troys (and their 2 kids- Caleb & Bridie) with Mum and me.

Janine

Sis

Sis, Bridie & Troy